Go Memphis

At Napa Cafe, Ben Adams combines his background in French cuisine with the restaurant's California style. Organic and locally grown produce also figure. New for fall at Napa Cafe, a pan-seared halibut with a julienne of fall vegetables and a lemon grass sake broth. Full story »

Josh Belenchia is sous chef at Interim Restaurant & Bar. Belenchia says his first cooking influence was his mother who would cook almost every night. The first thing he remembers cooking or baking is Christmas cookies. His first food-related job was when he was 19 and working as a fry cook at Crescent City Grill in Hattiesburg. Full story »

Want to taste something good? Consider the following: On Sunday, Magnolia: A Delta Grille in the Horseshoe Casino celebrates its second anniversary with a wine dinner at 6 p.m. A six-course meal will be prepared by chef James Gentry and paired with wines selected by Roger Roessler from Roessler Cellars. Full story »

John Ferraro is executive chef at Canal Bar & Bistro on Second Street in Downtown Memphis. Ferraro says his first cooking influence was watching Julia Child as a kid. "She definitely got me thinking food was something fun to do. I wrote my first recipe when I was 4. It was a pot roast recipe. I couldn't even write. I just drew the pictures of what the different images were." Full story »

Andrew Adams is chef de cuisine at The Brushmark Restaurant at Overton Park. Adams says cooking and making buttermilk biscuits with his grandfather when he was 6 or 7 years old helped him decide to pursue a culinary career. He also won a French fair cooking contest in fifth grade by making crepe suzettes. Full story »

Sometimes it’s fun to leave the city lights behind, if only for a few hours. We recently crossed the bridge for Uncle John’s, a little Italian spot in Crawfordsville, Ark., occupying the building that housed the movie theater known locally as the Gay Buzzard and later a laundromat. The Marconi family opened Uncle John’s 25 years ago. About 20 of us filled a big table in a room decorated with murals depicting locals in an Italian street scene. Full story »

Want to go out and taste something good? Consider the following: On Saturday, Great Wines & Spirits continues the summer blind tastings at Salsa restaurant, 6150 Poplar, from 1 to 3 p.m. This week's featured wine is cabernet sauvignon. Full story »

Scott DeLarme is executive chef at Owen Brennan's on Poplar. His first food-related job was at Pizza Delight. "They had me cooking and delivering pizzas when I was 15, in an old mail Jeep," DeLarme said. Full story »

Looking for something good to eat and drink this weekend and next week? Consider heading to Saturday's 11th Annual Spirit of SRVS Auction Affair from 6 to 10 p.m. at Hilton Memphis. The event includes vintage wines, food from numerous restaurants and live entertainment in addition to the auction. Tickets are $60 in advance and $65 at the door. Full story »

Sherman Smith is kitchen manager/chef at Majestic Grille. Smith says his passion for becoming a chef grew from high school when he played a cook in "Canterbury Tales" and his years as a cook in the Army. His first experience in the kitchen was as a dishwasher at Bol a Pasta when he was 16. Full story »

Want to go taste something good this week? Consider the following: On Saturday, Chef/owner Jeffrey Dunham of The Grove Grill hosts a "Bacon, Wine and Spirits Weekend Brunch" featuring Allen Benton's Tennessee bacon and ham at 12:30 p.m. Full story »

There are some dishes that probably should never have happened, yet they did -- and it turns out, some of us love these "abominations" and others hate them. Don't put pineapple on my pizza, please, but Whining & Dining blogger Jilkey loves hers with ham, pineapple and jalapeno. Full story »

Want to get out and taste something good this week? Consider the following: On Saturday, Great Wines & Spirits continues the blind taste-off competition to select this year's customer favorites from 1 to 3 p.m. at Salsa restaurant, 6150 Poplar in Regalia. This week, it's merlots. Drop-by, informal format. $5 per person credited toward any same-day purchase at Great Wines. Call 682-1333 for more information. Full story »

Want something good to eat or drink this week? Consider these events around the Memphis area. FRIDAY: Bill Huddleston with Southwestern Distributing hosts a Thai dinner at Chao Praya, 3588 Ridgeway, at 7 p.m. Four courses and three wines; $35. Call 366-7827 for reservations. Full story »

Patrick Gilbert is sous chef at Jarrett's Restaurant. His first food-related job was working as a dishwasher at Hops, a little micro brewery off Winchester. Though he says he hasn't necessarily defined a cooking style, Gilbert says he is heavily influenced by Asian cuisine. Full story »